Every year around draft time football fans are suckered into believing the sweet nothings out of the mouths of their general managers downplaying interest in every man, woman, and child that has ever touched a football. These men who have ascended to positions far more powerful than all but the most elite of public offices are either conditioned to speak nothing but lies, clichés, and non-statements in order to maximize the value of their draft picks or work for the Detroit Lions. Now there's one rumor that today has reached critical mass that has to interest the Chiefs, one that makes little sense outside of the context of being planted as a mistruth, and that's Mark Sanchez to Seattle. In today's MMQB column, Peter King says he doesn't expect Sanchez to last until the fifth pick. Ditto Todd McShay.

For a guy that's not going in the top three picks unless someone makes a trade, that doesn't constitute value at four. Certainly less value than Eugene Monroe, who would fit a need for Seattle as Walter Jones is 35 and finished last year on I.R., or Aaron Curry, who would be a luxury. So Profootballtalk suggests that Seattle has planted rumors that they're interested in Sanchez to entice someone to trade up with Kansas City, who by all reports would be a willing partner, so that either Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe would be available at four. King suggests that the Washington's 13th overall pick, third rounder, and next year's second would be enough to move up to 3rd overall, but I would take considerably less. I would certainly take their 1st, 3rd, and 4th, and I would probably take their 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Thirteen is a great place to look for a left tackle or linebacker, as it's easy to see Michael Oher or any linebacker beside Aaron Curry there. Of course, these potential deals assume Washington's interest in Sanchez in sincere, which PFT also doubts.

To be clear, of all the possible outcomes at three for the Chiefs, I think drafting a tackle is the most likely. Since the Lions appear to have locked on to Stafford, a top two tackle should be available at three, providing a better value than Curry. Look at it this way: there's not another linebacker going in the top 10, while Andre Smith had the worst combine ever yet will still go safely in the top 10. It's a long shot for anyone to trade into the top five, much less the top three. But an inordinate percentage of draft day trades to move up are to get a quarterback, so the rumored interest of Seattle in Sanchez is a best case scenario for Kansas City in terms of getting value out of the pick. Between this and Larry Johnson losing his grievance, April is turning into a hell of a month for the Chiefs, which bodes well for this weekend.

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Written by Ryan Cleaver
Ryan Cleaver was born in Björk’s house in Iceland and grew up on Easter Island, where his parents were giant stone heads. He has the ability to fire beams of tacos out of his hands and he can turn his legs into tigers.
On Sundays, Ryan enjoys reading Family Circus and traveling through time. His favorite color is greenish-transparent and his favorite movie is the one you just watched.

One Comment

In response to “How Peter King did the Chiefs a huge favor”

Great read, Ryan.Even though they signed Thomas, I just can't see them passing on a special LB like Curry. They have problems at more than a few spots, but that team is not going to improve significantly until they fix the defense.